Bridging the Gap: Maggi Bienvenu's Mission to Align Education and Industry in Acadiana

Maggi Bienvenu, a Lafayette native, has carved a unique path that has taken her from the enchanting world of Disney to the heart of economic development in her hometown. As the manager for Workforce & Policy Initiatives at One Acadiana, Bienvenu is on a mission to bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring that the region's workforce is equipped to meet the evolving needs of businesses.

Unlocking the Potential of Acadiana's Workforce

Identifying and Filling the Gaps

One of the biggest challenges in economic development is ensuring that companies have access to the skilled workforce they need to thrive. Bienvenu's role at One Acadiana involves identifying these gaps and finding innovative solutions to address them. By fostering connections between education providers and industry leaders, she works to align curriculum and training programs with the real-world needs of employers.Bienvenu's approach is multifaceted, as she delves into the nuances of both the education and business sectors. "My work requires a lot of figuring out where the gaps are and filling in the missing pieces," she explains. "There's a lot of gray area, and going out and talking to people to identify the gaps, even in educational curriculum, is a part of what I do."

Bridging the Divide: Facilitating Conversations and Collaboration

Recognizing the importance of open communication and collaboration, Bienvenu has created platforms for industry leaders and education providers to come together and share their perspectives. "We get industries together to have regular conversations," she says. "These are people who don't always converse with each other. Maybe they see themselves as competitors or as a competition for talent. Maybe they don't think they have anything in common, but we create a space where they can have real conversations."These forums have led to eye-opening revelations, as Bienvenu recounts a conversation with a small tech company owner who expressed the need for larger tech firms to be present in the region. "He said, 'We need the larger tech companies here so that I can find the talent I need. The jobs I have are all mid-career people. I don't have job for entry-level tech folks.'" This insight underscores the importance of fostering a robust ecosystem that can support businesses at all stages of growth.

Advocating for Systemic Change

Bienvenu's work extends beyond just facilitating conversations; she is also a passionate advocate for systemic changes that can benefit both businesses and individuals. Recognizing the challenges faced by women who have stepped out of the workforce to provide care for children or older adults, Bienvenu emphasizes the need for improved transportation and childcare systems in the region."We have to look at ways to pull people off the sideline," she says. "The vast majority of those people are women who are providing some kind of care for children or older adults. You can't pull those people in without addressing systemic issues. We need better transportation in Acadiana because our businesses need it because people need to be able to get to work. We need better child care systems. Not only to get their caretakers back into the labor pool, but to make the children themselves have a better shot at better careers later on."

Leveraging Diverse Experiences for Innovative Solutions

Bienvenu's own career path has been anything but linear, and she believes that her diverse experiences have equipped her with a unique perspective that informs her work at One Acadiana. Her time at Walt Disney World, where she explored a variety of roles and honed her problem-solving skills, has been particularly influential."Disney has an openness to let employees explore," Bienvenu reflects. "I got a chance to do a lot of my what-ifs at Disney — to be a tour guide in Europe, to be a hotel concierge, a housekeeping manager, to manage a hotel front desk and so much more — sometimes at the same time."This exposure to different facets of the organization taught Bienvenu the importance of listening, understanding the root cause of a problem, and finding creative solutions. "One of the biggest things I learned is to listen and figure out what was at the heart of the problem," she says. "Sometimes it's the out-of-the-box relationships I have that I brought into this role that help."

Championing Pathways to Success for All

Bienvenu's role at One Acadiana is multifaceted, as she serves businesses, educators, and students alike. Her ultimate goal is to create an ecosystem where everyone can thrive, from the companies seeking skilled talent to the students aspiring to build fulfilling careers."I like that I fit in the very personal side of economic development," Bienvenu says. "The whole idea is that we want our people to prosper here. As an organization that serves businesses, we want the organizations to thrive, but we also want students to have the best pathways toward success and happiness."By fostering collaboration, advocating for systemic change, and drawing on her diverse experiences, Bienvenu is positioning Acadiana as a region where businesses can flourish, and individuals can find the opportunities they need to reach their full potential.